in-sight from little and big life experiences

The Next Big Thing

Writer and filmmaker Ann Hedreen generously tagged me in an online writer’s blog series called The Next Big Thing. Ann is finishing up her poignant book Her Beautiful Brain, which is about her mother, who, renowned for her beautiful brain all her life, suddenly began to forget a lot…losing her mind to Alzheimer’s disease. You can read Ann’s responses to to the ten Next Big Thing Questions here. And here are mine:

1. What is your working title of your book?

You Are Michelangelo…And You Are David! Awakening the Creative and the Creation Within

2. Where did the idea come from for the book?

In the last several years of practicing my creativity with a spiritual sensibility, I stumbled upon the insight that our creations actually create us just as much as we create them. And in fact, the material realm of creativity is simply the “playground” or the “construction site” for the creation of ourselves and our lives. From all this springs the idea that creativity is the soul purpose and sole purpose of every human life!

3. What genre does your book fall under?

Because of its combined metaphysical and practical nature I guess the best genre for it is Self Help, though I’d just as easily have it fall under Spirituality!

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Hmmnnn…because of my emotional relationship with them, I’d have to pick from actors of Hindi cinema of India! I would have to be played by Smita Patil from the older generation, or Nandita Das or Konkona Sen Sharma from the newer generation. And my creations…they’d have to be played by a man, say the black-and-white version of Dharmendra or Hrithik Roshan or Aamir Khan or Ranbir Kapoor from the younger generations.

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Springing from the philosophical premise that creativity is our true nature and communion with Spirit, my book presents concrete pointers and actions for the intentioned and disciplined practice of creativity, with implications for creating both oneself and physical works of meaning and value for this world.

6. Will you be self-published or represented by an agency?

I’m essentially self-published, but through the specialized brand I co-created with Shirin Subhani, for independent authors telling stories of courage, creativity and change, called Flying Chickadee. Flying Chickadee also publishes the monthly magazine Courageous Creativity, with contributors from all over the world!

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

11 months!

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

My lifelong experience in creativity, my spiritual awakening that started about nine years ago, and all the amazing people who trust the unlocking of their creative potential to my guidance and witnessing through the Creativity Workshops I facilitate. All of this, however, can be summed up in ONE thing: my knowing of pure Love (and the purity of myself) through mirroring in the soul of another. This book began pouring out of me within days of having such a transformative experience last year, and it is therefore dedicated to him.

10. What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?
I think every reader will find themselves in and through the book – s/he will wake up. And feel the Love behind the words.

Who have I tagged? I can’t wait to see what comes of Mauktik Kulkarni’s insane yearlong adventure all over the world, which is currently chronicled in an anonymous blog, and is slated to be converted into a book. His first book A Ghost of Che – A Motorcycle Ride Through Space, Time, Life and Love already tells of his motorcycle adventure in Peru, Chile and Argentina. I’m also excited to see Nimisha Ghosh Roy’s Bharati’s Storycome alive through her blog into a book, and to see Anu Taranath’s finished manuscript hit the presses!